Rogers Foundation, Build-A-Bear team up to find fluffy friends for kids with OCD

The bears are a gift of the Build-A-Bear Workshop and Kristine Johnson of Oconomowoc, who worked with OCD Twin Cities to arrange the donation.

“All the kids coming into the Child Center receive a new stuffed toy,” said Tom Doughman, Child Center manager. “It’s usually waiting for them on their bed when they first get admitted. It’s been a long day, it’s a new place, and they’re about to spend the night alone in the center for the first time. Families have told us this is a very nice gesture,” he said.

The Child Center treats kids from age 8 to 13 with OCD and other anxiety disorders, disordered eating, and many other illnesses.

“It was very kind of Build-A-Bear to make this donation,” said Stephanie Eken, MD, FAAP, medical director of the Child Center. “We have many treatment team members who spend hours upon hours with our kids while they’re getting used to being in the center. The gift of the stuffed toy is one of the ways we let the kids know that while they’re at Rogers, they’re not without people who care about their well being,” she said.

Kristine Johnson of Oconomowoc of teamed up with Build-A-Bear and the Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation to make sure that a child staying at Rogers’ Child Center have at least one fuzzy new friend to greet them. Pictured are (from left to right): Child Center nurse Lisa Texeira, Kristine Johnson, Lydia Johnson and Child Center Social Worker Erin Olson.